Events

CGT—The universe of guitar knows no boundaries for The California Guitar Trio. Since 1991, the group has enthralled listeners with a singular sound that fearlessly crisscrosses genres. The trio’s questing spirit drives it to explore the intersections between rock, jazz, classical, and world music. It even throws in the occasional surf or spaghetti Western tune for good measure. Comprised of Bert Lams, Hideyo Moriya and Paul Richards, the group has established a unique, personal connection with audiences. In addition to dazzling musicianship and interplay, The California Guitar Trio’s (CGT) shows are full of captivating stories and humor that enable concertgoers to feel like they’re part of the music, not just spectators. In fact, the group’s goal is to transcend their instruments, so people focus on the music first, and its considerable technical prowess a distant second.

MG3–Described by the CBC as the “hottest” guitar ensemble in Canada, MG3 has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with, as well as an interactive force in various musical forms. For over 20 years, the trio’s virtuosity, rigour, creativity and impressive stage presence – where humour and interacting with the public go hand in hand – have been winning over audiences around the world. The trio, composed of guitarists Sébastien Dufour, Glenn Lévesque and Marc Morin, has given hundreds of concerts in some of the most prestigious venues across North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, including the legendary Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Rundetårnet in Copenhagen and the BB King Blues Club in New York City.

Who are the Sons of the Pioneers, and how can they call themselves “legends of Western music”? The short answer is that they Sons of the Pioneers singularly built a new genre and library of music that is an American original, one that has become synonymous with the American West, and that continues to enthrall generations of listeners worldwide. Although others have followed, although others have openly emulated them and have subsequently added to the genre of Western music, the Pioneers were the first and the best. They are an essential part of Americana.

The Pioneers were different right from the start. While most Western screen stars were singing traditional sweetheart songs, the Sons of the Pioneers sang about the West itself. Their songs painted unforgettable images and stories of horses, cattle, cowboys, night herds, canyons and prairies. Many of these songs were original compositions freshly penned by founding members Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. Together with Roy Rogers (then known as Leonard Slye) they created a whole new library of music. The group and their music garnered millions of national and international fans through appearances in over 90 movies, numerous radio shows, major label recording projects and later television appearances.

Songs from the Pioneer catalog have been recorded and used by a long list of who’s who in the music industry that includes Bing Crosby, the Boston Pops, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Frankie Laine, Johnny Cash, Riders in the Sky, Michael Martin Murphey, the Muppets. The Coen brothers featured “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” in their classic movie “The Big Lebowski.” Their signature songs have been recorded so many times by so many different artists that some people lose track of the fact these songs “belong to” the Pioneers.

They have accumulated more honors and awards than any other group or performer in Western music, including coveted awards from the Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Western Music Association and National Cowboy Hall of Fame. (You can see the complete list on the Awards page.)

Today the Sons of the Pioneers are still mesmerizing long-term fans and creating new ones. They continue to play to sell-out crowds and standing ovations. New fans are attracted by the current members’ musical ability and by those songs that haunt you long after the concert with the mystique of the great American West. As Doug Green said, “It’s not something that is connected to hit records and charts and fads. It’s just an eternal interest in the American West and they sing about it beautifully and it’s written beautifully and that’s something that just will never go out of style.”

In a performance of culturally inspired dance, music, and costumes, Brigham Young University’s Living Legends celebrates the Latin American, Native American, and Polynesian cultures in their show, Storytellers.

There is nothing new in the legend that we are about to tell. It has been told in every age, in every land, in every tongue. It is the story of today and tomorrow—of how we connect with the Earth, each other, and those who have gone before. This is the story of the Living Legends.

Spectacular choreography, colorful costumes, and heart-pounding music bring to life the skill, beauty, and authenticity of these traditional cultures. All Living Legends members are of Native American, Latin American, or Polynesian heritage. Storytellers reflects the cycle of civilizations and weaves together the legends of the past with the reality of today. From the exciting Polynesian haka and poi and the graceful Mexican Fiesta dances to the expertise behind the Native American Hoop Dance, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Living Legends tours around the globe to places such as Australia, Canada, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and South America. In 2021, the group toured the eastern United States where they performed in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California. In 2022, the group will tour Mexico, where they will perform in Guadalajara, Querétaro, Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaxa, Mérida, Cancún, and Tulum.

During the summer of 2013, Living Legends traveled to Central America and performed for enthusiastic crowds in Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. One of the highlights was a performance in Nicaragua, where the president of the National Assembly, Santos René Núñez Téllez, and his council were present in the audience. Mr. Téllez expressed he was profoundly moved and impressed with the show. He remarked that, “a culture does not die when it dies, it dies when it is forgotten. Your show rescues culture and heritage.”

In addition to performances while on tour, Living legends participates in community services and school assemblies, where they encourage students to pursue higher education.

One of the main goals of Living Legends is to encourage all people to take pride in their individual heritage and continuously better themselves. This focus is demonstrated in performances worldwide. The Office of Culture in Guatemala said, “Your performance was wonderful. Your presence here teaches our people something—to have high ideals and to talk proudly as a people. We hope this community will not be the same after tonight.”

Primal and powerful, the tango is the ultimate pairing of music and dance. Tango Obsession features musical selections from the traditional tango of Toto Damario and Mariano Mores, to the seductive rhythms of Astor Piazzolla’s beloved masterworks.  Camarada has selected a delicious variety of tango styles for this program of Tango Nuevo – dark and sultry with driving tempos to sunny and syncopated.  We are thrilled to present several Camarada commissions of traditional tango and Astor Piazzolla compositions arranged by Grammy award-winning tango master Raul Jaurena. 

Ticket holders for this event will be eligible to sign up for a free pre-concert Tango lesson.

After years of intensive recording projects and concerts for jazz aficionados throughout
the U.S., four San Diego-based musicians came together with a purpose: explore the
art of song in their own unique way! Renowned jazz, blues and gospel singer Leonard
Patton teamed up with the critically acclaimed Danny Green Trio to form LP And The
Vinyl. The band’s wide array of influences includes everything from jazz, R&B, and rock,
to 80’s and 90’s hits, Brazilian music, and classical music. Blending these sounds
together, LP And The Vinyl has created a highly unique and personal approach to
music-making that leaves its audiences energized and craving more. The group’s
repertoire draws from three separate areas: beautifully reimagined renditions of favorite
hits by artists including Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, and David Bowie, fresh and funky
explorations of jazz standards, and their own original songs. What lends consistency to
their approach is the group’s ability to bring something new to the music every time.
They play with no safety nets, and every emotion is on full display. Through Patton’s
infectious charisma, and the virtuosic interplay between pianist Danny Green, bassist
Justin Grinnell, and drummer Julien Cantelm, the audience is taken along for the ride
every step of the way!

Since their formation in 2015, LP And The Vinyl has performed at notable festivals and
venues including the Telluride Jazz Festival, the Vail Jazz Festival, Laguna Festival of
the Arts, Chandler Center for the Arts, and the Museum of Making Music. Their debut
album, Heard And Seen released in April 2020 on Origin Records and features music
by The Beatles, Quincy Jones, Tears for Fears, David Bowie, Oasis, as well as jazz
standards, and original songs. Jazz critic Travis Rogers Jr. remarked in his review,
“From tight arrangements to free-wheeling improvisations, this telepathic trio evolves
into an equally intercommunicating quartet with Leonard Patton. If there is a group
worthy of special attention and reintroduction in jazz, it is LP and the Vinyl.”

The members of LP And The Vinyl are all dedicated and experienced music educators.
They hold faculty positions at the University of San Diego, Grossmont Community
College, as well as school and community performing arts programs. They have given
lectures, workshops, and clinics at venues across the United States.

In 1996 the members of country super group Ricochet watched their debut single, “What Do I Know”, rise to the Top 5 earning the band the honor of the highest charting debut single of the year. The follow up single release, “Daddy’s Money”, became an immediate across the board hit, rising to #1 on the Radio & Records Country Singles Chart, the Gavin Country Singles Chart and the Billboard Country Singles Chart (where it stayed #1 for two consecutive weeks). The band’s distinctive musical style and intricate harmonies earned them the recognition as one of the most popular vocal groups in country music, a mantle they still wear today 

Now, more than fifteen years later, “The Hardest Working Band In Country Music” is still going strong. The band continues to create great country music, sung with the distinctive harmonies that are their hallmark. They log thousands of miles on the road each year thrilling audiences of all ages across the United States and abroad. 

Ricochet is: 
Heath Wright – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar & Fiddle  
Chris Hempfling – Drums & Vocals  
Larry Hight -Steel Guitar, Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Saxophone & Vocals  
Bruce Bennett -Bass & Vocals

Internationally renowned violinist, composer, and two-time Grammy Award-Winner Mads Tolling is celebrating the music of the 1960s Mad Men Era with his own distinctive style and innovative flair.

Mads Tolling & The Mads Men – Playing the 60s was released in 2017 with two sold-out performances at the legendary Bay Area Jazz Club, Yoshi’s. The album has been a favorite amongst fans and critics alike and was in the top 30 on US Jazz Radio for two straight months, peaking at #5. Mads has created a fun and exciting program that is at once nostalgic as well as contemporary, as he reimagines classic songs from 60s TV, film and radio. Repertoire ranges from “Mission Impossible” and “Meet the Flintstones” to “Georgia on My Mind,” “A Taste of Honey” and “All Along the Watchtower.”

So how did a Danish classical violin student growing up in Copenhagen in the 80s discover his passion for the 60s?  When Mads was fourteen, his father gave him a Miles Davis cassette tape that changed his life. Mads was hooked. He found a sense of intimacy and freedom in the 60s sounds of Jazz, Soul and early R&B, which inspired him to explore the possibilities of how to get there with his violin. The result is an exhilarating and thrilling musical adventure, with Mads guiding us to places we didn’t know a violin could go.

Joining Mads on this journey are his “Mads Men”: World-class musicians Colin Hogan on piano, Sam Bevan on bass, and Eric Garland on drums.

Water, air, earth, and fire intertwine in this dazzling adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic collection of stories. The complexities of the jungle and the personalities of its creatures come alive in this highly entertaining ballet. The Jungle Book premiered to enthusiastic audiences, instantly being called a “crowd-pleaser” and “a joy to behold.” Drama, humor, and daringly athletic choreography have made this a consistently successful touring production.

Following the adventures of Mowgli, a young jungle boy, The Jungle Book transports viewers though a mystical land of wolves, snakes, monkeys, and panthers, showcasing relationships and alliances in this iconic coming of age story. Drama, humor, and daringly athletic choreography have made this a consistently successful touring production, one that pleases audiences of all ages!